The Overlooked Edible – Bringing Mallow From Garden to Table

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Mallow is a wild edible highly esteemed for its various food uses, and chances are, it’s already growing in your backyard. This hollyhock relative is widespread across the United States and is a wonderful edible plant to become acquainted with.

Today, you’ll come to love this wild edible and start harvesting it for food rather than trying to find ways to remove it. But, if you must remove it, you might as well bring it into the kitchen and add it to your next meal!

What Is Mallow?

Mallow is a general name for several species in the Malva genus, including common mallow (Malva neglecta), high mallow (Malva sylvestris), and little mallow (M. parviflora).

How to Identify

Mallow is a sprawling plant with basal leaves, though it’s rarely seen with only its basal leaves. At a young age, it will send out its lengthy stems, which are light green to purplish, thick, solid, roundish to slightly angled, and finely pubescent (hairy).

Edibility &  Preparation

Mallow leaves, flowers, and immature fruits are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves can be added raw to salads or smoothies or steamed alongside other dark leafy greens such as spinach or kale. 

Harvesting

Harvesting mallow leaves, peas, and flowers, while simple, is rather tedious. It takes a while to gain a substantial harvest, so you’ll want to begin the task with patience and time to spare.

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